i cant say i know about that.
i also do see why the would solder instead of weld... sounds like a good separate thread.

the very idea of a three piece is that it can be divided into three pieces after its made, not before, not during, but after.

some 2 piece rims are welded from three pieces. but they cannot be dissembled, so they remain a 2 piece.

Actually the idea of a 3 piece wheel is to offer more custom sizes to the public as well as weight balance and strength balancing. How its final assembly is completed does not dictate what sort of wheel it is. Wheels are not meant to be maintained by the general public.

If you want a stepped lip - IE a normal lip - I can write the guy I got my RS lips from in Germany. He makes OZ and BBS lips, and as long as it isn't a reverse lip I am pretty sure he can make it. Send me a picture of your wheels, let me know what width you want and how many bolt holes there are.

The thing that makes me think the SP-1s are welded is the fact that the bolts are only on part of the face, I thought the rear barrel had holes all the way around and the face just covered up part of the holes. Also - the face is on the outside of the 3-piece combo, which is uncharacteristic of most 3-piece wheels, and yet another reason why I think they're welded.

That doesn't mean you can't widen them, it just means you'll have to cut the weld and get them welded back when you get the new lips.

Oh yeah, the lips aren't cheap. For a custom one I would expect to pay around 275-290 a lip for 2.5 or 3" lips.

i was looking at getting a pair that had unfavorable sizing, then buying lips to make them better (much like BBS rs's are very easily purchased, i thought the lips for the SP2's might be simple as well.) but for the price, its not worth it to me. i would rather go a different route. thanks for all the imput guys, its very much appreciated.